HopeBuilders Breakfast

CHT Celebrates NeighborWorks Week

The Champlain Housing Trust was joined by leaders of NeighborWorks America to celebrate the creation of a new community garden at Harrington Village in Shelburne, a brand new neighborhood that opened in the fall of 2014. The creation of the garden was followed by a barbecue for residents and the neighbors. The event kicks-off NeighborWorks Week, where NeighborWorks America and its network of local organizations mobilize tens of thousands of volunteers, businesspeople, neighbors, friends, and local and national elected and civic leaders in a week of neighborhood change and awareness.

“I am so happy to be here in Shelburne with the Champlain Housing Trust, their volunteers and Harrington Village residents to celebrate the beginning of NeighborWorks Week,” said NeighborWorks America’s CEO Paul Weech. “It’s great to see this multi-generational neighborhood coming together for a barbecue, to see the new community gardens where fresh food will be grown, and feel the sense of community that’s building here.”

Volunteers and residents of the apartments at Harrington Village filled in twenty raised beds Saturday morning, and residents began to put in seeds and seedlings in the gardens. The effort was supported by volunteers from the Master Gardener’s program at UVM, and several local businesses contributed supplies or gave a discount to create the gardens, including American Meadows (seeds), Vermont Community Garden Network (seedlings and technical assistance), Lamell Lumber Corp (raised bed lumber), Lowes (garden shed and picnic table), Agways (soil), and Dan Herman (compost tumbler).

NeighborWorks America made a capital grant in support of the development of Harrington Village, which includes 42 affordable family apartments developed by CHT and Housing Vermont, 36 senior apartments developed by Cathedral Square, and four affordable homes built by Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity in collaboration with CHT.

“Harrington Village is a great example of how we do things in Vermont – with a lot of collaboration and partnerships,” said CHT’s CEO, Brenda Torpy. “And today is another demonstration of that ethic, working together to build stronger communities. We’re thrilled to help NeighborWorks America launch their annual week of celebration here in Shelburne.”